Luckily I have a home made tripod for my .50 with a t&e so I will be spared that expense. the price for that stuff is really nuts. I have a bipod for it also and figure I can shoot it off that with a set of spade grips. I guess thats why ak's are so popular, after building all you need is some spare mags and ammo!!

I love my 1919. to tell you the truth I got in on the 8mm band waggon when it was new idea . I waited for ammo store to finish the first run of barrels I used a M6 flash hider and the proper feedway spacer. I know many guys had very good luck with it BUT for me it was very expensive as it ruined many parts of my gun time after time. I sold all the 8mm stuff so I would not be tempted again to try and now use 308 or 3006 only with NO trouble at all.
one of the biggest problems I had was when the primer would actualy pop a hole in the back of it and then send gasses throught the pin hole and slam the pin into the sear shattering it or screwing up my sear apring. yes I measured the hole, yes I measured the pin, yes I spent the bucks for new bolt and pins $$$, yes I understand headspace, no NOT turkish stuff. what a pain in the ass it was , 308 I run thousands of rounds with no trouble at all. this dose not mean you will not get good results with 8mm but I never did, I honestly never got more than a few through the gun without breaking something.
on a good word I know you will love it when you get it to fire properly
I used to make linkers and I can help you out with some measurements , even some parts for cheap if you are intrested ever. I think I sold a "kit " to a guy here some time back fer cheap.. measurements and drawings free
Hb

Hot barrel, thanks for the heads up on the 8mm! was it romanian or yugo you were using? punctured primers are no fun as I have had a few with the 42. I figured the 8mm yugo stuff would work as it is in 1919 links. I am interested in the linker and will pm you. Thanks!!

Looks good. I need to get cracking on my kit. Everything is ready, just needs to be assembled. When did Sam start doing the additional heat treat to the rear two inches? I got my plate from him a few years ago. I think the heat treat of it was consistent over the full length.

" The world is a very dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who do nothing about them." - Albert Einstein, 1879-1955

FWIW, Plinker makes an awesome 1919a4 rivet jig to be used with bucking bar wedges. Does all but the large trunnion rivets. Trunnion rivets are easy enough with 12 ton HF press and BFH to do final flattening. This photo has the optional AK rear rivet plate held in place by black set screw